Means for maintaining a supply of water in a cigarette extinguisher



Dec. 13, 1955 G, M, WEBBER 2,726,664

MEANS FOR MAINTAINING A SUPPLY OF WATER IN A CIGARETTE EXTINGUISHER Filed Feb. 1, 1954 www 44 MII"4 E? Vw UvA/E TUF GEORGE rfl. webbe? United States Patent O MEANS FR MAINTAEJING A SUPPLY F lififr'IER m A CHGARETTE EXTINGUISHER George M. Webber, Bonneville, Greg., assigner of one-half to Alfred Parkhurst, Portland, Greg.

Application February 1, 1954, Serial No. 407,318

6 Claims. (Cl. 131-236) This invention relates generally to devices for quenching cigarettes and particularly to a means for maintaining a supply of water in a cigarette quencher.

The main object of this invention is to insure a supply of water in the quenching compartment of a cigarette ash tray at all times.

The second object is to provide an efficient and simple means for extinguishing cigarettes in which an ample supply of water can be carried in an auxiliary container and drawn therefrom by the manual operation of a valve as water in the quenching compartment is evaporated.

I accomplish these and other objects in the manner set forth in the following specification as illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. l is a perspective View showing the relation of the device to an auxiliary water container and a vacuum pulling means, such as an intake manifold of an internal combustion engine.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary section taken along the line 2-2 in Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a section taken along the line 3 3 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a section taken along the line 4-4 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a section taken along the line 5-5 in Fig. l.

Fig. 6 is a transverse section taken along the line 6-6 in Fig. 3.

Like numbers of reference refer to the same or similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring in detail to the drawing, there is shown a drawer 10 which may be mounted in the instrument panel of an automobile as is the usual ash tray. The front 11 is provided with a pull knob 12.

The drawer 10 is divided by the longitudinal Wall 13, forming a compartment 14 for burned matches and quenched cigarettes. On the other side of the wall 13 is placed a transverse partition 15 which further divides the tray 10 into a water supply compartment 16 and a quenching compartment 17. The compartment 16 is provided With a sealed cover 18 which is held in place by means of screws 19.

Mounted in the rear wall 20 of the compartment 16 is a body 21 of an air valve 22, in whose chamber 23 is a piston valve 24, whose stem 25 is guided in the body 21 as shown in Figs. 2 and 4. A lateral port 26 is formed alongside of the stem 25 to permit air to ow from the compartment 16 through the suction line 27 to the intake manifold 28 of an internal combustion engine, or other source of reduced pressure. A nut 29 in the compartment 16 holds the valve body 21 in place on the wall 20. The nut 29 has an air port 30 which communicates with the chamber 23 when the stem 25 is moved inwardly against the spring 31 within the chamber 23.

A stub shaft 32 is mounted on the side wall 33 of the drawer 10. On the shaft 32 is rockably mounted a lever 34 to which is attached a rod 35 by means of a pin 36. The rod 35 extends into the nut 29 and registers with the stem 25.

Also connected to the pin 36 is a push rod 37, which passes through a hole in the partition 15. A port 3S is formed in the partition 15 near the rod 37. On the rod 37 is a collar 39 having a rubber closure disk 40 on the side facing the partition 15. On the outer end of the rod 37 is a push button 41.

In the lower portion of the partition 15. is a nipple 42 which provides communication between the compartments 16 and 17. On the lower end of the lever 34 is a valve 43 which is adapted to close the nipple 42 when the button 41 is pushed in.

If there is an ample supply of water in the compartment 16, it merely flows through the nipple 42 into the compartment 17 until the same level is reached in the compartments 16 and 17.

Water is supplied to the compartment 16 from a container 44, from which it is drawn. through a tube 45 which extends almost to the bottom 46 of the container 44. It is desirable to provide. a footv valve or ball check 47 in the lower end of the tube 45 to insure. that it will be full of water when possible. The tube 45v is supported where it enters the container 44 by the vented cork 48 and is connected at the other end to a tube 49 which extends through the wall 20.

On the end of the tube 49 in-the compartment 16 there is hinged a valve 50 lwhich is operated by a lever 51 on the float 52.

When water in the compartment 16 falls to a level which is insutlicient to satisfy the needs of the quenching compartment 17, then valve 50 opens the water inlet tube 49, due to the falling of the float 52. Nothing happens until the button 41 is pushed and the nipple 42 is closed by the valve 43 and the valve 22 is opened. This causes a reduction in the air pressure in the compartment 16 and the flow of water from the container 44 into the compartment 16.

There can be no flooding of the compartments 16 or 17 by pressing the button 41, as the water supply is cut olf by valve 50 and the oat 52 before this can happen.

When the button 41 is released, water can flow to the quenching compartment 17 through the nipple 42 and air is permitted to enter the compartment 16 above the water level through the opening 38. The device is, therefore, free from accident or playful misuse since a supply of water in the compartment 16 is always held below a predetermined maximum.

While this device is intended for use principally in connection with automobiles, it could, of course, be used any place where air is available below atmospheric pressures.

I claim:

l. A water supply apparatus for ash trays comprised of a drawer having a quenching compartment and a sealed water supply compartment communicating with said quenching compartment through water and air ports, a water container having a connection from the lower portion thereof adapted to discharge water into said supply compartment, a oat valve in said water supply com partment adapted to close the water supply line from said container when the water in said sealed compartment reaches a predetermined level, a suction line communicating with said sealed compartment, a valve in said suction line, a push button for actuating said valve, and valves actuated by said push button for closing the communicating ports between the quenching and supply compartments. p

2. In a device of the class described the combination of a tray having a sealed water supply compartment, a quenching compartment communicating with said supply compartment above and below a predetermined water level in said compartments, a suction line communicating with said sealed compartment, a spring-urged valve normally closing said suction line, a manually operable push of waterrfrom said container into said water supply compartment when the water in said supply compartment reaches a predetermined level. Y

3. An ash tray having in combination an'open quenching compartment, a closed watersupply compartment communicating therewith aboveA and below a predetermined water levelin Said compartments, a normally openY valve adapted to close said communication, a water supply tube connected withsaid'closed compartment, a suction line leading .from said closed compartment into a water compartment, and a push button operated valve controlling said suction line and connected withrsaid rst valve.

v4. In a device of theV class described a tray having Van of into said closed compartment, and a oat control valve within said closed container limiting the maximum amount of water admitted to said containerto a predetermined level.

5. The device described in claim 4, together witha check valve in the lower end of said suction tube adapted to maintain the water in said tube when possible.

6. An ash tray comprising an open quenching comparti ment, a closed water supply compartment, port means for establishing communication between said compartments above and below a predetermined water level, aY Y water supply tube connected with said closed compartment, a suction tube connected with said closed compartment, valve means adapted to close Said portmeans, a valve in said suction tube, a manipulable member for rclosing said valve means and opening said Ysuction tube valve, and water level responsive means to stop the filling of said closed compartment at Said predetermined level.

open quenching compartment and a closed water supply Y compartment communicating therewith, a suction line leading from said closed compartment, an air valve normally closing said suction line, means adapted to open said air valve and close the communication between the compartments, a water container remote from said water supply compartment, a suction tube leading from a point near the bottom of said container through the top there- References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Y 736,152 Renner Aug. 11, 1903 861,536 Rakestraw July 30, 1907 FOREIGN PATENTS 361,335 Germany Oct. 13, 1922 399,188 Germany ..--g July 21, 1924 

